Fashion Forward

It’s the end of another semester, the most bittersweet time of year. It is right about now that my nostalgia for the past year starts to kick in, and I wonder how I will survive this summer away from Boston College, and so many people and places that I love. I will miss Monday night dinners at Hillside, Sunday night productions, Fin’s, Newbury street … I will even miss living in Welch. But let’s not get too wrapped up in the closing of another year, it is in fact the end of a difficult, busy year. These first few weeks of summer mean decompressing, unwinding, relaxing, lounging, and the shore, of course. So in the spirit of celebrating the end, not mourning the passing of another year, here is my list of the top five things about summer fashions that I love:

1. In the summer, it will not take you hours and hours to get ready in the morning. Bundling up in the fall and nonexistent winter this year in Chestnut Hill is a special skill that must be finely honed. Coordinating layers upon layers, with accessories and outwear, is a huge, time-consuming hassle when you are in a rush to get out the door in the morning. Here is to summer sundresses that you can just throw on, simple shorts and t-shirt pairings, and my Rainbow flip flops that accompany me on almost any adventure I will have during the summer months.

2. While I move out of the classroom and into the sunshine, there is a floppy sun hat to protect me from the sun’s rays. Every year, the Kentucky Derby ushers in sunhat season. I recently added a large straw hat with pink accents to my steadily growing sunhat collection, and I can’t wait for its big debut—emphasis on the word big, this hat is huge—on the Cape or at the shore this summer. Not only do these hats complete any outfit and make a statement, but they provide quite the shady spot.

3. After wearing grey pretty much exclusively for the past six months—heck, I am wearing grey as I write this—it will be nice to step out in a bolder, brighter, summer palette. Whether you choose to don the truly bright a la Lilly Pulitzer or just add a hint of color against a blue jeaned white t-shirt backdrop, a little color can go a long way toward lifting your mood. This summer is especially exciting, with neon pinks, yellows, greens, and oranges found in almost every single store you can imagine. Snag a pair of brightly colored denim to pair with a simple, gauzy white top, or chambray shirt as a tribute to fashion’s biggest trend of the moment. But steer away from mint green denim if you don’t want to match everyone else.

4. Summer accessories are simply more fun. Finding the perfect pair, or pairs, of summer shades trumps any project I had to do this year. Then there is jewelry. I tend to throw on my rope bracelet from Cape Cod that I have had since I was nine years old, a few fun friendship bracelets that I made on lazy days on the beach, or with the kids I babysit for, and leave them on almost all summer, letting the saltwater and the sun soften them so I forget they are even there. Pair with a more sophisticated pair of shell, starfish, or other beach-inspired earrings, and you can’t miss.

5. If you are looking to switch out of your Rainbows for a brief moment, summer shoes are adorable and allow that fresh pedicure to be seen. From gladiator sandals in metallic colors, to brightly colored jellies for adults that harken back to our days on the playground—yes, they make those—summer footwear is fun and free. Espadrilles or wedges, the perfect dressed-up summer shoe, are not only adorable, but the most comfortable high heel you will ever wear in your life. Even summer fancy is comfortable.

No matter what you don during these summer months, everyone just feels more beautiful in the summer. With a hint of a tan, or a sprinkling of freckles, skin glows. Rich summer produce inspires healthier eating, and long days of swimming, surfing, and playing wiffle ball feel more like fun than exercise, but will get the job done just the same. And in the summer, long naps in the warm sand renew.


So throw on a simple, bright sundress in a lightweight jersey fabric, accent with straw hat and shades, throw on your Rainbows, and how could you not feel great this summer? Chestnut Hill will be here when we get back in the fall, and for a while, our summer glows will sustain, and we will remember why we love summer so much.